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Technical Details

  • Variable Type: Discrete Metric
  • Data Type: Boolean
  • Units: True/False
  • Column Name: hanging_back
  • Measurement: Initial movement direction after max front knee raise
  • Threshold: Backwards movement (away from plate)

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Description

Hanging back is a binary indicator that flags when the pitcher initially moves backwards (away from the plate) between initiation and max knee raise events. This is an indication of delayed forward momentum.

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Use Cases

  • Momentum analysis
  • Forward drive assessment

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Corrective Drills

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1. Tall-and-Fall Drill

Start in a balanced, upright stance on the back foot. Initiate motion by simply “falling” forward toward the plate — resist the urge to shift backward first. The front knee rises as the body falls, so momentum is always directed toward the target. Perform 15–20 reps, throwing into a net at 60% effort. Search YouTube: baseball pitching tall and fall drill forward momentum

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2. Hip Drive Step Drill

From the windup start position, use a resistance band looped around the hips and anchored behind the pitcher. The band encourages early forward hip drive immediately after initiation and penalizes any backward movement by increasing band resistance. Throw at reduced effort for 3 sets of 10 reps. Search YouTube: baseball pitching hip drive band drill forward momentum

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3. Step-Behind Momentum Drill

Begin in the stretch position (no full windup). On a coach’s signal, step directly toward the plate and fire — this eliminates the leg-kick delay and trains the body to generate forward momentum from the first movement. Once comfortable, gradually reintroduce the knee raise while maintaining the forward directional intent. Perform 20 repetitions. Search YouTube: baseball pitching momentum drill forward drive step